Virginia Tech's Tavante Beckett was arrested Monday and charged with conspiracy to sell/distribute marijuana, a class 5 felony, and possession of marijuana, a misdemeanor, according to the Virginia Courts Case Information website

Virginia Tech's Tavante Beckett was arrested Monday and charged with conspiracy to sell/distribute marijuana, a class 5 felony, and possession of marijuana, a misdemeanor, according to the Virginia Courts Case Information website (Dave Knachel / HANDOUT)

Virginia Tech linebacker Tavante Beckett was arrested Monday and charged with conspiracy to sell/distribute marijuana, a Class 5 felony, and possession of marijuana, a misdemeanor, according to the Virginia Courts Case Information website. The charges led to his indefinite suspension from the team.

Beckett, a 5-foot-10, 221-pound sophomore who graduated from Indian River High in Chesapeake, is scheduled for a hearing Sept. 22 in Montgomery County General District Court in Christiansburg. The Class 5 felony charge involves conspiracy to sell/distribute more than a half-ounce but less than five pounds of marijuana, which carries maximum penalties of up to 10 years in prison and a $2,500 fine.

The misdemeanor possession of marijuana charge is punishable with up to 30 days in jail and/or a $500 fine for first-time offenders. Though Beckett was arrested Monday, the felony charge stems from an incident that occurred Aug. 23, according to the Virginia Courts Case Information website.

Tech’s athletic department bylaws for athletes dictate an athlete will be automatically suspended from all games, practices and team-related activities when charged with a felony. Suspensions remain in place until the felony charge or charges are resolved. Tech coach Justin Fuente didn’t speculate Wednesday regarding Beckett’s future with the team.

“I just won’t go down that road right now,” Fuente said Wednesday on the weekly in-season ACC football coaches teleconference. “As soon as we found out what was going on, we acted immediately and in turn issued a statement (Monday), and that’s kind of where we’re at.”

Beckett came into the season as the No. 2 middle linebacker behind starting senior Andrew Motuapuaka. Beckett, who had six tackles last season while playing in all 14 games as a backup, played in Tech’s first two games this season against West Virginia and Delaware, but he didn’t have any tackles.

Tech defensive coordinator Bud Foster confirmed Tuesday he plans to move forward with redshirt senior Sean Huelskamp as his No. 2 middle linebacker. At that time, Foster was in a wait-and-see mode regarding Beckett’s status.

“I’m planning on him coming back, but I don’t know,” said Foster, who had been preparing Beckett to compete for the starting middle linebacker role next season.

While Beckett’s status on the team is uncertain, backup wide receiver Phil Patterson will miss an indeterminate amount of time because of an injury.

Patterson, a 6-2, 193-pound redshirt freshman who graduated from Bayside High in Virginia Beach, has had a medical procedure performed, according to a Tech source with knowledge of the situation. Fuente said on the teleconference he’s optimistic Patterson can return this season.

In August preseason practices, Patterson was expected to compete for playing time at receiver, where Tech was planning to rely on several unproven players in addition to veteran team leader Cam Phillips. Patterson has yet to play in a game.